Cut-out



2 Sheets Sheet '1.

(No Model.)

A. T. TREGURTHA. GUT OUT Patented Apr. 7, 1891.

Inl/6h26?? wzbzes.

Mz d/0 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. T. TREGURTHA.

GUT-OUT.

Patented Apr. '7, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ALFRED T. TREGURTHA, OF EVERETT, ASSIGNOR OF ONEllALF TO HENRY A. CLARK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

` CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,767, dated April 7, 1891.

Application filed February 25, 1889. Serial No. 301,102. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED T. TREGURTHA, of Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Out-Outs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention consists of the construction and arrangement of parts in an electric cirio cuit to a light or other electric device connected to a main electric circuit, so that the electric circuit to the light or other electric device can be connected to or cut out from the main electric circuit for the repairing or replacing of the parts making this electric circuit or for other purposes without disturbing or interfering with the light or other electric device in connection therewith as to its support or location, all substantially as zo hereinafter fully described, reference being had to the aecompanying` sheets of drawings, in which* Figure l represents a perspective view of the present device in connection with an ine 5 candcscent lamp and as connected to wires of a main electric circuit, the parts being supported from the ceiling of a room. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts separated. Fig. is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. l.

3o Fig. 4 is a det-ail cross-section on line et 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section on line 5 5, Fig. l. Fig. G is a view similar to Fig. l, to be hereinafter more particularly refer red to. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of Fig. 6, similar to Fig. 2. Fig. S is a horizontal section on line S 8, Fig C.

In the drawings, A represents a circular base of wood or other suitable material adapted to be secured to the ceiling or any 4o suitable support in any desirable manner, having a rim or flange B, with a shoulder or recess C, forming a central depression or chamber D.

E F are two metal blocks inserted and secured in the flange B by screws d, iiush with the same and diametrically opposite to each other, and each having` an open slot or groove G in its outer end, in which is placed an electric wire Il in the main circuit, which wire rests in a groove a in the part h of the block, 5o a screw d screwing through its other part e, arranged to bear against and hold the electric wire in its block-groove a, by which each main electric wire is secured to its respective contact-block E or F, and the wires to the 5 5 base, the base being cut away, as shown at f, each side of the contact-block to allow ot' the insertion of the electric wire in place. Each block on its outer side has an arm h projecting toward the center of thebase a short dis- 6o tance over the chamber D, and the inner or under side m of such arm is inclined or beveled outwardly, as shown.

J K are metal strips or plates secured to the bottom of the chamber each by screws ot 6 5 r, and cach having a raised rightangular projecting arm L, the two projecting in opposite directions, their under or inner faces t being inclined outwardly.

M is a circular block of wood or other suit- 7o able material of a diameter to tit within the recess C of the base and having secured to its inner face four metal plates or strips N P Q R each by screws n, and each having its outer or free end o bent slightly upward and 7 5 inclined, the plates being secured in such position on the face of the cover in relation and contactblock F, and then turned to the right, the ends o of the cover-plates P N will 8 5 pass, respectively, under the contactsblock E and arm L of plate .l and the cover-plates Q R will pass, respectively, under the contactblock F and arm L of plate K, the spring of the metal plates holding the cover in place 9o on the base, and which also maintains the electric circuit with the main wires.

Attached to the screw fr of the plate J is an insulated electric wire S, and to the screw fr of the other plate K is another insulated electric wire T, which wires are twisted together and passed through a central opening or passage to in the cover, and their other ends are rent flows one Way or the other.

v the lamp or its wires.

connected to the incandescent lamp U in the. usual and well-known manner, these wires S 'l serving as electric conductors from the plates on the base to the lamp, and alsoas a means of suspending or supporting the lamp from the base and entirely independent and free of the cover. j

The strips or plates on the cover are'co'nnected together by a fusible wire fy, as shown.

When all parts are together and the elec- Y, tric current is turned on the main Wires, it passes from the electric wireH to contact block E, to the plate N, through its fusible wire y, to plate P, to angular arm L of plate J, to insulated wire S, to the lamp, and returns; through the insulated wire T, angular arm L of plate K, to plate Q, throughk its fusible wire y, to plate R, contact-block F, and to the i,

other electric wire 1-I, or vice versa, as the. y

case may be, according as the electric cur, To remove the cover, turn it to the left or in the reverse direction from that by which it was securedl in place, which disengages the several plates on the cover from the contact-blocks and arms I on the base, when it can be moved from the base along the lamp-wires, as shown in dotted 1 lines in Fig. 1, the opening in the cover beingj large enough to allow of its free movement thereon. The parts can then be'repaired or changed, as desired, and the cover be replaced in position, making the electric circuit com-,1 plete with the lamp and main circuit'and all without disturbing or interfering with the i lamp so far as its support is concerned, thus 1 obviating any and all liability of injuring or; breaking thelamp and its connecting-wires'- an advantage which is very desirable.

In Figs. G, 7, and 8 is shown away of sup-f' porting the lamp from the base. without the lamp-wires passing through the cover, the.y Q lamp-wires in these views being entirely out.

side of it, so that when the cover is detached, from the base it can be removed entirely from the same and independent thereof and.

blocks V W are secured in the liange of the base between the electric contact-blocks E F," equidistant from the same, and are secured each by a screw a screwing through the back ofthe base into a projecting portion b of the block, as shown. Each of these'blocks has'av projecting portion d over the chamber, their., under faces e being inclined in a similar manner to the projecting portions of the con'- tact-blocks E F.

The four plates N P Q R on the cover arel secured radially by screws u equidistant from each other, and when the cover is placed on the base and turned to the right or left the ends v of these plates pass under the project- 4 ing end of the blocks V W and contact-blocks E F on the base, which secures the cover to the base and makes electric contact with the parts, and being equidistant from each other,

In these views metal:

alike,V the cover can be put on at any point and then turned and secured.

One insulated wire T of the lamp is connected by the screw A to one block W, and the other Wire by the screw B to the other v`be free of the saine, yand are then twisted together and at such place pass through apassage in a small ball C', which prevents their ',untw'is'ting or separating.

vm-l`he base and cover can be made of any suitable material that is a good non-conductor of electricity. Although being made fof wood,they can be made cheaply and quickly. If made of an electric conducting f material, the various connecting parts should be properly insulated.

By this device, when it is desired to cut fout the electric circuit to any particular lamp, or when any of the parts require replacing or to be repaired, it can be done by removing the cover, and that without inter- .fering or disturbing the lamp as to its support or location-an advantage which is very desirable in electric circuits carrying one or more incandescent lamps and an improvement over electric'eut-outs now in use,where the lamp is connected to the -cover in lieu of the base, the removing ot' the cover of which necessitates the moving of the lamp, and thus .increases the liability of injuring and break- Sing of the lamp, as is obvious.

I do notclaim in this application the elec- ,'t'ric block as a means of making electric contact between the electric wires and the electric lamp and'of securing the cover to the base, as that is the subject of an application of mine, filed April 17, 1890, Serial No. 348,838.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a base having yelectric contacts thereon for connection with 3 the main wires of the electric circuit and a lamp having its electric wires each connected `to an independent electric contact on said base, by which wires the lamp is suspended and supported, of a cap or cover having electric contacts on its inner side, each two conf.: nected by a separate fusible electric wire, and `jsaid electric contacts being arranged to enl gage with and to be connected to the electric contacts on said base to make electric con- -nection therewith and to secure and hold said cap or cover in position on the base.

V2. The combination, with a base having f electric contacts thereon for connection with `lthe main wire of the electric circuit and a lamp having its electric wires'each connected to an independent electric contact on said ibase, by which wires the lamp is suspended and supported, of a cap or cover having electric contacts on its inner side, each two conl nected by .a separate fusible electric wire, and said electric contacts being arranged to engage with and to be connected to the elecblock V,and both then pass from the base "'o'ut'sile'of the 'cover a sufficient distance to roc trio contacts ou said base to make electric In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Connection therewith and to secure and hold my hand in the presence of two subscribing said cap or cover in position on the base, and witnesses.

said @up or @over having an opening or pas- ALFRED T. TREGURTHA. sage through it, through which the eiectric- Witnesses: lamp wires freely extend, substantially as and BLANCHE E. TREGURTHA,

for the purpose specified. JAMES TREGURTHA. 

